Wakefield funeral home 'overwhelmed' by support after thieves steal hundreds of pounds of artificial grass from funeral marquee

Howarth Funeral Services said thieves had stolen twelve metres of the grass from inside a marquee which has been used to facilitate socially-distanced funerals during the pandemic.

The marquee was set up by funeral director Ian Howarth last year during the first national lockdown, when services at Wakefield crematorium were limited to six people.

Located at the funeral home's premises on Denby Dale Road, the marquee is heated and had a floor of artificial grass. It can hold up to 30 people, in line with current government guidance.

Ian said the marquee has been an important part of the funeral process during the pandemic.

He said: “The marquee has been really well received since we set it up last spring. It is like a wedding marquee that is fully done out.

“Yesterday morning when we went to set it up for a service, we found that it has been vandalised.

“An hour and half before a family was coming to send off a loved one, we found that the 12x6m ground of artificial grass had been ripped off.

“We thought that the marquee was secure, it was grounded and took three men to install.”

Mr Howarth then went on to say: “We had to scramble to hold the planned service in our tea hall.

"We haven’t been able to use the room since the government has stopped post-funeral receptions but luckily this room can also hold up to 30 people following the social distance rules."

Since Mr Howarth announced the theft on Facebook yesterday, the business has been inundated with kind messages and offers of donations from people across Wakefield.

Berriman Carpets, in Pontefract, and Italian restaurant Rinaldis have both offered to donate replacement grass to the home since the theft was discovered on Thursday morning.

Mr Howarth said: “A local carpet shop and restaurant have both offered to replace the stolen grass and with local people offering to donate money.

“We recognise that we are lucky to be still in business as others have had to shut up shop. We want to thank everyone who has offered support and money, but we can’t accept donations.

“We will replace the grass when we have fully secured the marquee in the next week or so.”

It is believed the theft took place between 1pm on Monday, January 4, and 9am on Thursday, January 7.

Anyone with information on the theft is asked to contact West Yorkshire Police on 101, quoting reference number 13210009525. Information can also be given anonymously to charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111